It is estimated that unwanted electronics represents 1.9 to 2.2 million tons in the US alone. The majority of these products, about 1.5 to 1.9 million tons, were discarded in landfills with only 345,000 to 379,000 tons recycled. The end result isn’t pretty. E-waste is toxic and 40% of heavy metals – such as lead, mercury, cadmium – in our landfills comes from the disposal of electronic equipment. 

Here are 9 cool web services which pay you for trading in your phone (or other old gadgets) you have lying around.  In order to help you pick one, we did a head to head acid test by picking 3 phones and comparing payouts from trading in each phone, from each site.

The Acid Test

• 1 high end: iPhone 3G (2nd Gen) 16GB
• 1 mid range: Blackberry Curve 8310
• 1 low end: Nokia 1110

All slightly used but good working condition.  All carrier unlocked.  All with the box and everything that comes with it (chargers, manuals, cables etc)

1. How to get the best trade-in deals quickly: BuyMyTronics

BuyMyTronics first started of as BuyMyBrokeniPod.com several years ago when we first wrote about them a couple of years ago.  Since then they’ve gone from strength to strength and have expanded to cover all forms of consumer electronics and they have one the highest payouts around. 

It has a brilliant search-as-you-type interface which makes it absolutely a breeze to find whatever you’re looking for and the payout rates are among the best.  I guess a good testament to how their service is, is that if you go back to that old post we did 2 years ago, all the other services we wrote about have shut down, while BuyMyTronics now turns over a million dollars in revenue, and have expanded into multiple categories (all that while being 100% windmill powered too). 

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD206
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD65
• Nokia 1110 USD0

2. How to come together as a group to recycle gadgets and combat e-waste: RecyclingFundraiser

RecyclingFundraiser is a service which also takes in all kinds of electronics, and even accepts jewelry for trade-in!  What I really like about them is the fact that they mainly promote community recycling.  In fact they have a whole resource library for running your own recycling fundraiser, so now you can help the environment, raise awareness about e-waste and trade in for cash to help another good cause at the same time.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD75
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD25
• Nokia 1110 USD3

3. How to get store credit with your old gadgets : C.Exchange

This service has pretty decent payouts, and also ties into a large selection of retailers including Radioshack and CompUSA for store credit.  Just a note that when I tested, I noticed you in many cases, you get a better payout opting for cash rather than store credit.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD191.74
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD57.39
• Nokia 1110 : NA

4. How to get money even when your friends trade in and recycle gadgets: EZTradein

EZTradein is like a typical trade-in site, but it also has an affiliate program which offers 3% of all sales made to the center coming from your affiliate link.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD106
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD48.78
• Nokia 1110 : NA

5. How to get the best trade-in deals and help plant a tree: Flipswap

Flipswap or Greenphone offers some of the best trade-in prices as well.  They also have a separate program which ties up with retailers and plants a tree for every transaction made with their instore program.  This is expected to result in 250,000 trees planted in 2009.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD230.75
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD49
• Nokia 1110 USD USD5.60

6. How to recycle gadgets and help a good cause: YouRenew

Aside from the typical trade-ins, YouRenew will also donate towards a Renewable Energy Certificate, or plant a tree on top of paying you for your goods. 

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD179
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD55
• Nokia 1110 : NA

7. How to sell in bulk: Gazelle

On top of the usual gadget trade-ins Gazelle also caters to volume selling so if you’re an organization, school or business, you may be able to get a better bulk deal there.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD196
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD48
• Nokia 1110 : USD0

Other online recycle centers:

8. MyBoneYard

A basic recycling site.  Average payouts.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD148
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD51
• Nokia 1110 : USD0

9. ecoNew

Econew ties into a few retailers but it’s not as flexible as some of the other services here.

Acid Test Results:  What you get for trading in…

• iPhone 3G 16GB USD85
• Blackberry Curve 8310 USD51
• Nokia 1110 USD0

VERDICT:

Bottom line:

The top two choices when you want to recycle gadgets, based on payout seem to be BuyMyTronics and Flipswap, both which give the best trade-in rates based on our acid test. 

However, do check out the other services as well because most of them offer their own unique spin.  No matter what you pick however, give yourself a pat on the back for keeping one more gadget out of the landfill.